He is a dark horse in this competition.
dark horse
idiomSomeone who possesses talents or favorable characteristics that are not known or expected by others.
Origin
first recorded 19th c.Originally an allusion to an unknown horse with a dark coat winning a race, as used in the 1831 novel The Young Duke by Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881).
Nobody expected the quiet student to win the debate, but he proved to be a real dark horse.
Although the seasoned politicians dominated the early polls, the dark horse candidate surged ahead after a series of unexpected and impressive public performances.
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beat a dead horse
To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.
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charley horse
A muscle cramp, usually a strong one, in the thigh, leg, arm, or core.
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close the stable door after the horse has bolted
To attempt to prevent a problem that has already occurred; to design and implement a preventive mechanism that is too late (after the first failure instead of before).
- 04
dark cloud
A situation or future event that causes worry, problems or unhappiness, likened to such a cloud overhead in the sky.
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enough to choke a horse
An excessive quantity.
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flog a dead horse
To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more; to attempt to arouse fresh interest in something that is either hopeless or already settled.
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get back on the horse
To return to an activity after a period of abstaining from the activity.
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get back on the horse that bucked one
To return to something that previously caused harm.